Luminol enhanced Fc-receptor dependent chemiluminescence from peripheral PMN cells. A methodological study

Maximal luminol enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) of PMN cells after Fc-gamma-receptor stimulation is a way to study the cell activity in connection with phagocytic function. Optimal conditions for such a method were elaborated for practical clinical use. After blood sampling and gentle mixing the blood sample was allowed to stand at +20 degrees C for not more than 1 h. The PMN cells prepared at +20 degrees C were washed at +4 degrees C with a phosphate buffer containing human serum albumin. A gentle lysis of the red blood cells with NH4Cl solution reduced the number of red cells sufficiently not to interfere with the CL. Important factors for the precision of the method were reproducible amounts of bacteria and a reproducible mixing of the particles during the CL analysis. The method had a variation (CV) of 10-15% in healthy individuals.